InterMat Staff

Three-time state medalist Max Wohlabaugh (Winter Springs, Fla.) verbally committed to Clarion University on Tuesday afternoon. The No. 50 overall wrestler in the Class of 2017 was runner-up in both styles, Greco-Roman and freestyle, at this summer's Junior Nationals at 160 pounds. Wohlabaugh also was a champion in Cadet Greco-Roman at 152 pounds during the summer of 2015 and a UWW Cadet National champion in Greco-Roman this June at 69 kilograms. The 2014 state champion projects to compete as a 157/165 in college.

Leon Bailey with his bookEd Ruth, Nahshon Garrett, Joey Davis, Myles Martin and J'den Cox are among recent NCAA wrestling champs who happen to be African-American. Decades before they won their titles, pioneers such as San Diego State's Harold Henson (first black wrestler at NCAAs, 1949) and Iowa's Simon Roberts (first African-American NCAA champ, 1957) opened doors for these champions -- and thousands of other wrestlers. Add Leon Bailey to the list of pioneering, door-opening athletes of color in wrestling. Bailey was the first African-American to wrestle for the U.S. Navy at Quonset Point Naval Air Station in Rhode Island in the mid-1960s (who then became a Navy coach) ... and became the first black to win an individual title at the AAU New England Six-State Championships in 1964. Bailey now shares his life story in his new self-published book "Leon Bailey - The Dream" now available. Leon Bailey's world Leon Bailey was born in May 1943 in Baltimore. He grew up in Cherry Hill, a then-new housing project, with his brothers, a sister and mother, who cleaned houses for others to earn a living. He describes a community where neighbors helped each other out in times of trouble ... citing an A&P grocery store manager who helped Leon and his mother fill his red wagon with dented cans of food and day-old bread one time when there simply wasn't any money to her to purchase food. ("It was like Thanksgiving for us," Bailey told InterMat.) When asked if he experienced discrimination, Bailey answered, "Not in my Navy wrestling or coaching experience" ... but went on to talk about his experiences growing up in Baltimore that may be difficult for those who did not live during the 1950s and early 1960s to fully grasp. Bailey told of Baltimore department stores that would not allow African-Americans to try on clothes in the store or return them if they had been purchased and taken home, and the local drug store lunch counter that was off-limits to blacks. Even at the local McKim Community Center, there were strict rules on use of the facilities, with African-Americans allowed only on Tuesday and Thursday nights. It was at McKim where Bailey discovered boxing and wrestling. "McKim had one of the oldest wrestling teams in the area," according to Bailey. "When we went to wrestle in cities outside Baltimore, we heard 'No n*****s' from the host team's fans in those gyms." Leon Bailey continued his wrestling career at Carver High School, where he wrestled junior varsity and varsity. Bailey's coach wanted him to go out for a second sport, so he first tried football ... but decided that wasn't for him, so his coach recommended cross country. By this time, Bailey's mother became a manager -- then owner -- of a bar and grill, and the family then left Cherry Hill to move into an apartment located above that business. It was at that bar and grill where Bailey met former military men who he described as "jocks." "After talking to them, I gained the dream of wanting to wrestle and box in the Navy," said Bailey. Wish granted ... after many travails Leon Bailey soon discovered that his dream of participating in combat sports in the U.S. Navy was not going to be smooth sailing. But his faith prevailed. "My story is a religious story," according to Bailey. "It's how God takes care of His children." "God gave me athletic ability ... In high school, I was not a studious student. I went to school for sports." Leon BaileyIn his book, Leon Bailey writes about how his desire to wrestle and box in the U.S. Navy seemed to be thwarted at every turn ... while other prayers were answered -- for example, after basic training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center outside Chicago, he was sent to work at Walter Reed Hospital in suburban Washington, D.C. ("God bringing me 45 minutes from home" as Bailey put it). In 1963, Bailey was assigned to the USS Essex aircraft carrier stationed in Rhode Island ... but the Essex was out on a six-month tour of the Mediterranean, so he found himself at the Transit Barracks at Quonset Point Naval Air Station. It was there while he was sweeping the floor of the gym that he saw a sign: "Wrestlers Needed." After work he reported to the location on the sign. "It was then I met Josiah Henson, the most wonderful person I ever met," Bailey told InterMat. Commander Josiah Henson, a former US Naval Academy wrestler who competed at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, was in the process of establishing a wrestling program at Quonset Point ... and Leon Bailey became the first (and, at the time, only) African-American on the team. In 1964, Bailey earned another first, becoming the first black to win a title at the AAU New England Six-State championships held at Quonset Point, crowned champion in the 136-pound weight class in a bracket that held over 100 entrants. He did this despite a painful knee injury during the tournament that required a trip to the emergency room as soon as the tournament was over. As Bailey pointed out in his book, his Navy team wrestled a number of schools in New England, including Brown, Harvard, and Boston College ... teams from YMCAs in Boston and Providence ... as well as athletic clubs within the six-state region. From his recollections of opponents and opposing teams from a half-century ago, he was the only African-American wrestler at these dual meets and tournaments. (Note: Throughout the 1950s and into the mid-1960s, it was rare to see blacks wrestle in college. A number of major college programs throughout the U.S. usually had only one or two wrestlers of color at that time. Bailey's title was less than a decade after Simon Roberts became the first African-American to win a collegiate mat title in 1957; like Bailey, Roberts was the only black on his Iowa Hawkeye teams in the mid-1950s.) When Josiah Henson was promoted to Captain -- and to a new assignment -- he recommended that Bailey be named coach of the wrestling program at Quonset Point. That was yet another first in a series of firsts for Leon Bailey. A positive, uplifting story Leon Bailey"I hope that readers find my book to be inspirational," said Bailey. "It's not my story; it's God's story." "I'm hoping that with problems today in the black community, that perhaps this book can help change lives." "Leon Bailey - The Dream" is a concise book that wrestlers, parents, coaches and fans can read and find motivation and inspiration. The book's length, subject matter and vocabulary are especially appropriate for young readers just discovering chapter books, and are seeking a true-life story about a young man who overcame multiple challenges in his early life to find success in wrestling ... and become stronger in his Christian faith. Entire teams can read "Leon Bailey -- The Dream" and learn about an individual who opened doors for other wrestlers of color to find success in wrestling and coaching ... and in life. "Leon Bailey - The Dream" is available for $10 each (plus $2 shipping and handling). To purchase, contact Leon Bailey at Leon.Bailey22@verizon.net... call (410) 323-6299 (home) or (410) 500-6351 (cell) ... or by mail to: Leon Bailey, PO Box 66505, Baltimore, MD 21239. Please make checks payable to Leon Bailey.

Dwight HinsonDwight Hinson will be the exclusive guest on this week's edition of the On the Mat wrestling broadcast, which will air on Thursday, Oct. 27, at p.m. CT. Hinson wrestled for Iowa State, where he was a four-time NCAA All-American (1995-98) and 1996 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships finalist. On the Mat is a presentation of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. The show can be heard live on the Internet at 1650thefan.com or locally in Northeast Iowa each Wednesday at 5 p.m. CT on AM 1650, The Fan. A podcast of the show is available on mattalkonline.com.

CONCORDIA, Kansas -- It's official. Cloud County Community College has named Chris Freije the first men's wrestling head coach in school history, following Tuesday night's Board of Directors meeting. Chris FreijeFreije, a 31-year-old native of Mesa, Arizona, will lead the T-Birds for their inaugural season in the fall of 2017. "I'm excited. This is a very good wrestling region in the state of Kansas and I'm excited for this opportunity," Freije said, who comes to Concordia from Columbia, Kentucky where he was the Head Assistant Coach at Lindsey Wilson College. Freije also has assistant coaching stops at a pair of Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) programs: Colorado Mesa University (2010-2014) and his alma mater Western State University (2010). "Chris was an outstanding candidate and came into the interview with approximately seven years of collegiate coaching experience. He has a great feel for recruiting, a great feel for raising money through camps, which will be something very important to our area," said Cloud County Athletic Director, Matt Bechard. "He understands departmental matters and issues, and really has a good feel for getting his athletes involved in campus and community life. He was a great candidate in a solid group of applicants interested in the job. But Chris definitely stood out. We're excited about him getting here on November 1." On the mat, Freije was the 2004 Arizona Class 5A state champion his senior year in high school at 152 pounds. He wrestled his freshman year at Arizona State University before finishing collegiate career at Western State, helping the Mountaineers to a RMAC Championship in 2009. Freije won the RMAC Super Region 4 championship and finished as the NCAA DII runner-up at 149 pounds that same season. That competitiveness that nearly landed him a national championship has Freije hopeful that Cloud County wrestling can be a program that can compete immediately in the NJCAA Region VI and nationally. "I'd like to hit the ground running this first year. I think all the resources are there to be a top team," Freije said. "It's tough to make predictions going in, but I'd like us to be a top-15 team in Year One and in years to come. I believe Cloud County will be a program that consistently competes for championships at the national level." Freije said he would like to finalize the hire of an assistant coach within the coming weeks and get on the recruiting trail as soon as possible. And while he has connections across the Midwest, Freije said finding in-state talent is a top priority. "I have a large recruiting database of seniors already put together, but Kansas is obviously going to be my main state for recruiting," Freije said. "I think it's important to recruit in-state and keep as many of the local wrestlers in the region as possible." Freije, who has helped coach eight conference championship teams, 28 national qualifiers, 12 All-Americans and two National Champions between the NCAA Division II and NAIA ranks, said personality traits, in addition to recruiting great talent, will be important factors when assembling his roster. "The big thing with me is to recruit top quality individuals with high character," Freije said. "I want kids who are committed to the process. Putting the focus on well-rounded excellence is something that is essential and what my coaching philosophy is based on.

Fargo champion Kanen Storr will wrestle John Meeks at ISU's intersquad (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com) AMES, Iowa --- Iowa State wrestling fans are going to be able to get a preview of what the 2016-17 squad will look like. Head Coach Kevin Jackson and staff are inviting the public to Lied Recreation Center on Friday, Oct. 28 at 5 p.m. for the Cardinal and Gold intersquad. Fans are invited to kick-off the homecoming weekend with the inter-squad action on Friday night. Several of the matches set to take place are wrestle-offs, and starting spots will be on the line. Wrestling will begin at 5 p.m. on the first floor of the Lied Recreation Center on the turf portion of the facility. One mat will be rolled out to simulate dual-like action. Iowa State is prepping for their season opener at South Dakota State. The Cyclones will take on the Jack Rabbits on Friday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. in Brookings, S.D. Below is a full schedule of events for the inter-squad scrimmage: 2016-17 Inter-Squad Schedule 4:45 p.m. - Exhibition matches Daniel Vega vs Brenden Baker Ian Parker vs Anthony Wesley Gabe Moreno vs Briar Cochran 5 p.m. - National Anthem (performed by Gavin DeWitt) 5:05 p.m. - Matches start 125: Kyle Larson vs Jonathan Marmolejo 133: Earl Hall vs Nathan Boston 141: Kanen Storr vs John Meeks 149: Blayne Briceno vs Chase Straw 157: Renaldo Rodriguez-Spencer vs Zemua Baptista 165: Colston DiBlasi vs Dane Pestano 174: Lelund Weatherspoon vs Carson Powell 184: Patrick Downey III vs Hank Swalla 197: Marcus Harrington vs Samuel Colbray 285: Nick Nolting vs Alex Silberstein

As Cleary University continues to grow and expand, it's athletic department is doing likewise as it announced the addition of varsity wrestling, to start in September of 2017, as it's newest male athlete sport. Scott Lucas, who has coached for nearly two decades including a seven-year stint as an assistant coach at Eastern Michigan University, has been tapped to spearhead the new program. Coach Scott Lucas with AD Ward MullensLucas is looking to build a roster of 30-40 wrestlers that will compete in 10 different weight classes to begin the program with the thought that those numbers will remain consistent over the years. As Cleary looks to join the NAIA next season, the wrestling program will look to take to the mat with other area NAIA and NCAA Division III programs, but Lucas is not adverse to going head-to-head with larger programs. "In open tournaments, giving our wrestlers an opportunity to compete against a vareity of competition including NCAA Division I opponents is something we'll be seeking," he said. Wrestling will be the lone official winter sport for Cleary as the season runs from November through March each year. While the regular season begins when the leaves fall, Lucas will launch the training session each year with a road trip or mission trup during the summer months with an eye on an eventual trip to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Aside from his stint at EMU, Lucas, who has coach at all levels from youth to college, developed club programs in Farmington Hills and Whitmore Lake, as well as Bangor, Maine. Lucas additionally coached at the middle school level in Dexter and the high school level at Westland John Glenn and Farmington. Lucas, who aims to add a graduate assistant a several volunteer assistant coaches, hopes to launch a USA Wrestling kids club and an adaptive program for children and adults, often veterans, with physical and mental challenges. A retired professional fire chief and emergency manager, Lucas works in crowd and emergency management for the Detroit Tigers graduated from Concordia University in Ann Arbor with a BA in Business Administration and Leadership and is currently completing an MS in Technology Studies from EMU. Lucas lives in Williamston with his wife Marianna and thir 11-year-old son Carter. For more information about the new Cougar wrestling program, contact Coach Lucas at slucas@cleary.edu. Cleary University is located in Howell, Michigan, just east of the state capital of Lansing and northwest of Ann Arbor in the central part of the state. Founded in 1883, Cleary has approximately 1,000 students.

Besik Kudukhov Medals awarded in men's freestyle wrestling at 60 kilograms/132 pounds at the 2012 London Olympics will stand, as investigations of two medalists who had reportedly been under review for alleged doping four years ago have been closed. The International Olympic Committee has dropped an investigation into silver medalist Besik Kudukhov of Russia who allegedly tested positive for a banned steroid when an old sample was retested, according to the Associated Press and other sources Monday. This news comes on the heels of an earlier announcement in September from United World Wrestling that Azerbaijan's Togrul Asgarov, gold-medal winner at 60 kilograms in London, had never been in violation of UWW's anti-doping policy. This summer, the IOC announced it had asked the World Anti-Doping Agency to retest blood and urine samples of athletes who had participated in the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics. These samples, which were kept in deep freeze for up to 10 years for retesting, using newer technology not available four or eight years earlier. In early September, some media outlets reported that both Kudukhov and Asgarov were under investigation for possible past violations fueled speculation that they might lose their medals, and that the two bronze-medal winners at 60 kilograms at the 2012 Olympics -- India's Yogeshwar Dutt, and Coleman Scott of the U.S. -- might receive higher medals. The story took on added drama in that Kudukhov -- who also won a bronze medal at 55 kilograms at the 2008 Olympics -- had been killed in a car crash in his native Russia in December 2013. After initially saying he should be presented with the silver medal, Dutt changed his mind, saying it should remain with the Russian's family.

Kaori Icho received the People's Honor Award TOKYO -- Four-time Olympic Games gold medalist Kaori Icho on Thursday received the People's Honor Award from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the prime minister's residence in Tokyo. Icho became the first female Olympian to win an individual event in four consecutive Olympic Games when she triumphed in the women's 58-kilogram final over Valeria Koblova-Zholobova (Russia) at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The People's Honor Award was established in 1977 and is given to a person or group in Japan that has sparked excitement and encouragement in society through an outstanding achievement in cultural endeavors in sport, music and film among others. Icho joins women's wrestling national team teammate Saori Yoshida as the 24 recipient of the award. Yoshida received the award in 2012 after winning her third Olympic Games gold medal in London and her 13th overall world-level title. In the area of sports, professional baseball legend and homerun king Sadaharu Oh was the first recipient in 1977 and was later joined by Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games judo gold medalist Yasuhiro Yamashita and Sydney 2000 women's marathon gold medalist Naoko Takahashi. Icho, who received from Abe a commendation, plaque and a commemorative band for a kimono, is the 13th recipient of the award from the world of sport and second from wrestling after Yoshida. Icho later said at a dinner reception in a Tokyo hotel that "Receiving the commendation, plaque and obi, I realized for the first time what a prestigious award the People's Honor Award really is." "At the same time, a number of sobering thoughts were simmering inside me," she added. The reception, with International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach in attendance, was being held to promote the success of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

State champion Jake Woodley (North Allegheny, Pa.) became the fourth top 100 recruit from the Class of 2017 to verbally commit to the University of Oklahoma. The No. 90 overall wrestler in the senior class placed seventh at 195 pounds in last weekend's Super 32 Challenge to cap off an off-season of positive results. It included a fourth place finish at the FloNationals and an eighth place finish in Junior National freestyle, those coming at 182 pounds, as well as an undefeated performance at the AAU Scholastic Duals this summer. Woodley projects to compete as a 197 pound wrestler in college. He joins No. 22 Domenick Demas (Dublin Coffman, Ohio), No. 33 Kyle Lawson (Olentangy Liberty, Ohio), and No. 52 Tanner Litterell (Tuttle, Okla.) as top 100 verbal commits for the 2017 recruiting class of new Sooners head coach Lou Rosselli.

Alex Lloyd finishes a takedown at the InterMat JJ Classic (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine) ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Wrestlers from the host state of Minnesota starred at the InterMat JJ Classic on Saturday. Both wrestlers to repeat as champions of the tournament came from the Gopher State. Alex Lloyd (Shakopee, Minn.) was champion of the 145-pound weight class, winning third tournament for a third straight year. He absolutely dominated his way through the tournament, with a pair of technical falls and pair of second period pins leading to a 12-4 major decision victory over 2015 state champion Jaden Winchel (Sparta, Wis.) in the championship bout. I feel pretty good," said Lloyd. "I have a hand injury, but that's nothing. I got a lot better on top. I'm improving on a lot of things, so I was happy with what happened." Lloyd, ranked No. 30 overall in the Class of 2018, became just the fourth wrestler to win three or more titles at the InterMat JJ Classic. The performance and resume of accomplishment earned him Outstanding Wrestler honors in the tournament. Israel Navarro won his second straight InterMat JJ Classic (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine) The other repeat champion in the tournament was a fellow Minnesotan, Israel Navarro (Willmar) at 120 pounds. His path to the finals was much harder than that of Lloyd, as Navarro had to survive one point victories in both the quarterfinal and semifinal bouts. The championship match was a 4-3 tiebreaker decision over Colby Njos (Anoka, Minn.), the wrestlers placed third and sixth respectively at 106 pounds in Minnesota's big-school division last year. Alex Crowe defeated state champion Hayden Krein in the finals (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine) Lloyd was one-half of one of the three teammate combinations to win titles at the InterMat JJ Classic on Saturday. Joining Lloyd as a Sabers wrestler to win a weight class was three-time state medalist Alex Crowe, who won the 160-pound weight class. He won his two opening bouts by 15-0 technical fall before a pair of decisions over state medalists from Wisconsin; 8-3 over Zach Lee (Kaukauna) in the semifinal, before a 9-2 victory over state champion Hayden Krein (Sparta) in the final. Reid Ballantyne earned the title at 106 pounds (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine) The pair of wrestlers from Stillwater, Minn. to win titles were Reid Ballantyne at 106 pounds and James Huntley at 182; while the pair from Bloomington Kennedy, Minn. to win titles were Jake Leicht at 170 and Alchan Robbs at 220. Three other Minnesota natives, making it a total of ten champions in fifteen weight classes, earned titles on Saturday in Rochester at the home of The Clash Duals and Minnesota Christmas Tournament. Garrett Vos won a JJ Classic title after finishing third in each of the last two years (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine) State champion Garrett Vos (Waconia) won the 126 pound weight class, steamrolling his five opponents on the way to a championship. There were three major decisions and two technical falls, including 14-1 over Aidan Medora (Wauwatosa, Wis.) in the championship bout. "I think I controlled it well," said Vos. "I think I got out early and scored points. That's what I want to do ... just keep scoring points." Two-time state medalist Nate Larson (Apple Valley) prevailed at 138 pounds, 6-3 over state qualifier Patrick Ryan (New Trier, Ill.) in the final; while state medalist Austin Braun (Woodbury, Minn.) upended two-time state placer Devin Streidler (Bismarck, N.D.) 5-3 in the 152 pound final. Connor Williams defeated two Fargo All-Americans en route to winning the title at 182 pounds (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine) Most notable of the out of state titles was the one won by state medalist Connor Williams (La Crosse Central, Wis.) at 182 pounds. In the championship match, it was a 6-4 victory over defending InterMat JJ Classic champion Tyler Buesgens (Scott West, Minn.), who last year was also a state medalist; the semifinal match was a 3-1 victory over state runner-up Caden Steffen (Zumbrota-Mazeppa). "It feels great," said Williams "I bumped up a weight from 170 and I just feels great with all the fluids in me. Now I can wrestle any of my matches just shooting, scoring and defending those shots. So I feel pretty great today." Rounding out the champions were Isaac Klimhammer (Brandon Valley, S.D.) at 100 pounds, Keegan O'Toole (Arrowhead, Wis.) at 113, Chris Deloza (Clovis North, Calif.) at 132, and Spencer Trenary (Clarion-Goldfield, Iowa) at 285. The last three matches of the tournament for Klimhammer all went greater than the six minutes of regulation; he won the quarterfinal 10-5 in overtime, the semifinal 5-5 in the ultimate tiebreaker, and 2-1 in the tiebreaker periods in the final over Matthew Bianchi (Two Rivers, Wis.). Keegan O'Toole gets in a scramble with Charlie Pickell in the finals (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine) O'Toole, a Cadet freestyle All-American this summer, beat fellow freshman Charlie Pickell (Mankato West, Minn.) 5-1 in the championship match; Pickell was a high school state champion last season. More notable was the 7-5 overtime victory over returning state placer Drew Bennett (Fort Dodge, Iowa) in the semifinal. "I worked really hard this offseason because I didn't achieve what I wanted to at Fargo, so I just really worked as hard as I could so I could achieve my goals this year," O'Toole said. Christopher Deloza defeated two-time state champion Sam Stuhl in the championship match (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine) Deloza, a state medalist in 2015, beat two-time state champion Sam Stuhl (Ellsworth, Wis.) 7-5 in the championship match. Returning state medalist Trenary, a Cadet Greco-Roman champion, won a pair of matches by fall in a three-person round-robin to win his title. 100: 1st: Isaac Klinkhammer (Brandon Valley) dec. Matthew Bianchi (Two Rivers), 2-1 TB 3rd: Paxton Creese (Shakopee) dec. Maxwell Petersen (Byron), 8-4 5th: Ryan Henningson (Winona) maj. dec. Javon Taschuk (Stillwater), 15-3 106: 1st: Reid Ballantyne (Stillwater) dec. Charlie Stuhl (Ellsworth), 4-1 3rd: Maxwell Crowe (Shakopee) dec. Jaxson Rohman (Martin County West), 6-5 5th: Cian Fischer (Weyauwega-Fremont) dec. Joey Thompson (Maple Grove), 13-11 SV 113: 1st: Keegan O'Toole (Arrowhead) dec. Charlie Pickell (Mankato West), 5-1 3rd: Lucus Anglin (Vermillion) by injury default over Drew Bennett (Fort Dodge) 5th: Joey Bianchi (Two Rivers) dec. Joseph Peterson (Albert Lea), 8-5 120: 1st: Israel Navarro (Willmar) dec. Colby Njos (Anoka), 4-3 TB 3rd: Ryan Ripplinger (Bismarck) dec. Zachary Smith (Prior Lake), 8-2 5th: Drew Woodley (Northfield) pinned Dominic Dentino (Arrowhead), 1:26 126: 1st: Garrett Vos (Waconia) maj. dec. Aidan Medora (Wauwatosa), 14-1 3rd: Jack Tangen (New Trier) dec. Brady Gross (Apple Valley), 3-0 5th: Tyler Shackle (Scott West) pinned Aaron Bahr (West Salem), 3:30 132: 1st: Christopher Deloza (Wrestling Prep) dec. Sam Stuhl (Ellsworth), 7-5 3rd: Sebas Swiggum (Apple Valley) dec. Tate Torgerson (Cambridge-Isanti), 8-5 5th: Leo Wilczek (Little Falls) by injury default over Alex Kern (St Cloud Tech) 138: 1st: Nate Larson (Apple Valley) dec. Patrick Ryan (New Trier), 6-3 3rd: Jaden Van Maanen (La Crosse Central) dec. Clay Carlson (Prior Lake), 9-3 5th: Jackson Redhair (Oak Ridge) dec. Gavin Ignaszewski (Albert Lea), 4-2 145: 1st: Alex Lloyd (Shakopee) maj. dec. Jaden Winchel (Sparta), 12-4 3rd: Peyton Mocco (West Allis Nathan Hale) maj. dec. Joshua Otto (Arrowhead), 14-4 5th: James Brown (Cambridge-Isanti) pinned Brock Parker (Waukee), 0:45 152: 1st: Austin Braun (Woodbury) dec. Devin Steidler (Bismarck), 5-3 3rd: Devon Sievers (Deuel) pinned Jacob Forar (Lakeville), 1:49 5th: Parker Wahl (Bismarck) by injury default over Chase Logelin (New Prague) 160: 1st: Alexander Crowe (Shakopee) dec. Hayden Krein (Sparta), 9-2 3rd: Dalton Wagner (Jackson County Central) maj. dec. Noah Lefebvre (Foley), 17-9 5th: Zach Lee (Kaukauna) maj. dec. Joshua Bernier (Thief River Falls), 14-6 170: 1st: Jake Leicht (Bloomington Kennedy) dec. Bryson Alsteen (Kaukauna), 6-3 3rd: Tyler Dahlstrom (Saint Francis) dec. Brennan Rutt (New Prague), 7-2 5th: Seth Anderson (Lakeville North) pinned Colton Krell (Blooming Prairie), 2:47 182: 1st: Connor Williams (La Crosse Central) dec. Tyler Buesgens (Scott West), 6-4 3rd: Caden Steffen (Zumbrota-Mazeppa) dec. Beau Yineman (Neenah), 5-4 5th: Noah Keith (Bloomington Kennedy) by injury default over Alex Lindstrom (Eastview) 195 (Round Robin): 1st: James Huntley (Stillwater) 2nd: Griffin Thorn (Owatonna) 3rd: Jarret Haglund (Zumbrota-Mazeppa) 4th: Ezayah Oropeza (Rosemount) 5th: Abdulla Shigidy (Burnsville) 220 (Round Robin): 1st: Alchan Robbs (Bloomington Kennedy) 2nd: Justin Mohlin (Centennial) 3rd: Carlos Jimenez (Apple Valley) 285 (Round Robin): 1st: Spencer Trenary (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows) 2nd: Anthony Putz (St Peter) 3rd: Trey Chatman (Hayfield)

Two-time Cadet National freestyle champion Ryan Karoly (Malvern Prep, Pa.) verbally committed to Northwestern University on Saturday afternoon. The No. 25 overall wrestler in the Class of 2018 was also a National Prep champion at Blair Academy, N.J. last season before transferring to Malvern Prep. In addition Karoly was a finalist in both styles at the 2015 Cadet Nationals in Fargo, winning the title in freestyle. Karoly is the third top 50 commit to Northwestern in the 2018 recruiting class; where he joins his high school teammate Michael Beard, ranked as the No. 7 overall junior, and No. 35 Anthony Cassioppi (Hononegah, Ill.). He projects to compete as a 184 pound wrestler in college.

100: 1st: Isaac Klinkhammer (Brandon Valley) dec. Matthew Bianchi (Two Rivers), 2-1 TB 3rd: Paxton Creese (Shakopee) dec. Maxwell Petersen (Byron), 8-4 5th: Ryan Henningson (Winona) maj. dec. Javon Taschuk (Stillwater), 15-3 106: 1st: Reid Ballantyne (Stillwater) dec. Charlie Stuhl (Ellsworth), 4-1 3rd: Maxwell Crowe (Shakopee) dec. Jaxson Rohman (Martin County West), 6-5 5th: Cian Fischer (Weyauwega-Fremont) dec. Joey Thompson (Maple Grove), 13-11 SV 113: 1st: Keegan O'Toole (Arrowhead) dec. Charlie Pickell (Mankato West), 5-1 3rd: Lucus Anglin (Vermillion) by injury default over Drew Bennett (Fort Dodge) 5th: Joey Bianchi (Two Rivers) dec. Joseph Peterson (Albert Lea), 8-5 120: 1st: Israel Navarro (Willmar) dec. Colby Njos (Anoka), 4-3 TB 3rd: Ryan Ripplinger (Bismarck) dec. Zachary Smith (Prior Lake), 8-2 5th: Drew Woodley (Northfield) pinned Dominic Dentino (Arrowhead), 1:26 126: 1st: Garrett Vos (Waconia) maj. dec. Aidan Medora (Wauwatosa), 14-1 3rd: Jack Tangen (New Trier) dec. Brady Gross (Apple Valley), 3-0 5th: Tyler Shackle (Scott West) pinned Aaron Bahr (West Salem), 3:30 132: 1st: Christopher Deloza (Wrestling Prep) dec. Sam Stuhl (Ellsworth), 7-5 3rd: Sebas Swiggum (Apple Valley) dec. Tate Torgerson (Cambridge-Isanti), 8-5 5th: Leo Wilczek (Little Falls) by injury default over Alex Kern (St Cloud Tech) 138: 1st: Nate Larson (Apple Valley) dec. Patrick Ryan (New Trier), 6-3 3rd: Jaden Van Maanen (La Crosse Central) dec. Clay Carlson (Prior Lake), 9-3 5th: Jackson Redhair (Oak Ridge) dec. Gavin Ignaszewski (Albert Lea), 4-2 145: 1st: Alex Lloyd (Shakopee) maj. dec. Jaden Winchel (Sparta), 12-4 3rd: Peyton Mocco (West Allis Nathan Hale) maj. dec. Joshua Otto (Arrowhead), 14-4 5th: James Brown (Cambridge-Isanti) pinned Brock Parker (Waukee), 0:45 152: 1st: Austin Braun (Woodbury) dec. Devin Steidler (Bismarck), 5-3 3rd: Devon Sievers (Deuel) pinned Jacob Forar (Lakeville), 1:49 5th: Parker Wahl (Bismarck) by injury default over Chase Logelin (New Prague) 160: 1st: Alexander Crowe (Shakopee) dec. Hayden Krein (Sparta), 9-2 3rd: Dalton Wagner (Jackson County Central) maj. dec. Noah Lefebvre (Foley), 17-9 5th: Zach Lee (Kaukauna) maj. dec. Joshua Bernier (Thief River Falls), 14-6 170: 1st: Jake Leicht (Bloomington Kennedy) dec. Bryson Alsteen (Kaukauna), 6-3 3rd: Tyler Dahlstrom (Saint Francis) dec. Brennan Rutt (New Prague), 7-2 5th: Seth Anderson (Lakeville North) pinned Colton Krell (Blooming Prairie), 2:47 182: 1st: Connor Williams (La Crosse Central) dec. Tyler Buesgens (Scott West), 6-4 3rd: Caden Steffen (Zumbrota-Mazeppa) dec. Beau Yineman (Neenah), 5-4 5th: Noah Keith (Bloomington Kennedy) by injury default over Alex Lindstrom (Eastview) 195 (Round Robin): 1st: James Huntley (Stillwater) 2nd: Griffin Thorn (Owatonna) 3rd: Jarret Haglund (Zumbrota-Mazeppa) 4th: Ezayah Oropeza (Rosemount) 5th: Abdulla Shigidy (Burnsville) 220 (Round Robin): 1st: Alchan Robbs (Bloomington Kennedy) 2nd: Justin Mohlin (Centennial) 3rd: Carlos Jimenez (Apple Valley) 285 (Round Robin): 1st: Spencer Trenary (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows) 2nd: Anthony Putz (St Peter) 3rd: Trey Chatman (Hayfield)

Alex Lloyd will be looking to win his third JJ Classic title (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) The seventh annual InterMat JJ Classic is set for Saturday at the UCR Regional Sports Center in Rochester, Minnesota. Wrestlers from 10 different states are represented in this year's field. Four returning JJ Classic champions, Israel Navarro (Willmar, Minn.), Jaden Van Maanen (La Crosse Central, Wis.), Alex Lloyd (Shakopee, Minn.) and Tyler Buesgens (Scott West, Minn.), will be looking to repeat in 2016. Lloyd, the nation's 30th-ranked junior, will be after his third straight JJ Classic as he looks to join the three-time champions club that includes Justin Portillo (Clarion-Goldfield, Iowa) and Bobby Steveson (Apple Valley, Minn.). Mark Hall won five JJ Classic titles Mark Hall (Apple Valley, Minn.), the nation's No. 1 recruit in 2016, stands alone as a five-time JJ Classic champion, and the only wrestler to win more than three JJ Classic titles. Wrestling begins on Saturday at 9 a.m. CT. Fans can follow the results on Trackwrestling and watch the matches -- live and archived -- on Trackcast. Registration remains open until weigh-ins conclude on Friday night. For more information on the JJ Classic, visit the event website. Note: The names listed in the preview are subject to change. The field will not be finalized until weigh-ins close on Friday night. Paxton Creese was a double All-American in Fargo (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) 100: This weight class includes several wrestlers with strong youth wrestling credentials, but there are few with varsity wrestling experience. One wrestler that has been successful at the high school level is Will Magaard (KMS, Minn.), who won 30 matches as an eighth-grader and qualified for the state tournament. Paxton Creese (Shakopee, Minn.) earned double All-American honors in Fargo this past summer, placing third in Greco-Roman and seventh in freestyle. He was a Minnesota/USA Triple Crown winner this year as a Cadet, capturing state titles in all three styles. Matthew Bianchi (Two Rivers, Wis.) was a Schoolboy Nationals Greco-Roman champion this year. Adam Allard (West Sioux, Iowa) is a past Tulsa Nationals champion who has won or placed in several national events. Another wrestler who could figure into the mix in this weight class is Eli Fischer (Milbank, S.D.), a multiple-time state champion at the youth level. Cian Fischer was a state third-place finisher last season 106: Returning state placewinners Cian Fischer (Weyauwega-Fremont, Wis.) and Caleb Clobes (LCWM, Minn.) headline the group of challengers at 106 pounds. Fischer compiled a 43-2 record last season and placed third in Wisconsin's state tournament. Clobes was a state fourth-place finisher, going 25-6. Reid Ballantyne (Stillwater, Minn.) was a Ninth Grade League state champion, and placed in the top three in all three styles this year at Schoolboy Nationals. Joseph Thompson (Maple Grove, Minn.) was a state qualifier as an eighth-grader and then captured a MN/USA state title in folkstyle in the spring. Cody Holmes (Two Rivers, Wis.), a returning JJ Classic placewinner, was a runner-up in the Junior National folkstyle competition, and placed sixth in the Junior National Greco-Roman competition in Fargo. Maxwell Crowe, a junior, was a Cadet freestyle All-American in 2015 and has placed numerous times in national tournaments. He was a state champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman this year. Dylan Anderson (Apple Valley, Minn.), Charlie Stuhl (Ellsworth, Wis.), Jared Spohn (Sauk Rapids-Rice) and Andrew Sanders (Minnetonka, Minn.) bring strong wrestling resumes into the tournament. Drew Bennett battles Israel Navarro in the finals of the 2015 InterMat JJ Classic (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine) 113: Drew Bennett (Fort Dodge, Iowa) will look to claim his first JJ Classic title after finishing runner-up a year ago. Bennett was a state third-place finisher last season, with his only loss coming to the state champion in the quarterfinals. Just over a month ago Bennett took Dylan D'Emilio, a Fargo finalist and past Cadet World Team member, to overtime before losing at IAwrestle's Night of Conflict in Iowa City. State champion Charlie Pickell (Mankato West, Minn.) is a top contender in this weight class after finishing third at the JJ Classic a year ago. Last fall he reached the semifinals of the JJ Classic at 106 pounds before losing narrowly to Bennett, 7-6. He went on to win a state championship as an eighth-grader. Wisconsin has strong contenders in this weight class in Joey Bianchi (Two Rivers), Keegan O'Toole (Arrowhead) and Jon Bailey (Sparta). Bianachi was a state runner-up this past season. Bailey (Sparta, Wis.) is coming off a state fourth-place finish. O'Toole earned All-American honors in both the Cadet folkstyle and Cadet freestyle competitions this year. South Dakota state placewinners Lucus Anglin (Vermillion) and Colby Mennis (Madison) will be looking for strong finishes in this weight class. Hunter Burnett compiled a 41-0 record en route to winning a state title (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) 120: This weight class is loaded with talent and includes two state champions, a returning JJ Classic champion, two state runner-ups and one of the nation's top junior high wrestlers. Undefeated state champion Hunter Burnett (Pipestone, Minn.) will look for his first JJ Classic title after placing sixth in the event two years ago. Last season Burnett capped a 41-0 sophomore season with a state championship at 113 pounds in Minnesota's Class A division. In the state semifinals he took out returning state champion Ethan Cota (Kenyon-Wanamingo), then in the state finals dominated previously unbeaten Jace Geving (Deer River) 15-3. Israel Navarro (Willmar, Minn.), a JJ Classic champion last year at 106 pounds, is up two weight classes from last year. He was a state third-place finisher last year, with his lone loss coming to state champion Patrick McKee (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.). Navarro finished the season ranked nationally by InterMat. Ryan Ripplinger (Bismarck, N.D.) is a multiple-time state finalist, winning a state title this past season. He placed fourth in the Cadet National Greco-Roman competition this past summer in Fargo. One of Indiana's top lightweight wrestlers, Ty Mills (Brownsburg), poses a strong threat in this weight class. He was a state runner-up in 2015, and last season placed third. Dominic Dentino (Arrowhead, Wis.) was a state runner-up last season. Eighth-grader Ryan Franco (Wrestling Prep, Calif.) is one of the rising wrestling stars in the United States. He is ranked No. 5 among all junior high wrestlers in the United States, and last weekend at the Super 32 Challenge had a strong showing, knocking off multiple state placewinners. Franco has won titles at the Reno Worlds in each of the last three years. This year he rolled to the title at 110 pounds in the 12 and under division with four pins and a major decision in his five matches. He was a California state freestyle champion this year. Zach Smith (Prior Lake, Minn.) is a multiple-time state placewinner. Other state placewinners in this weight class include Boyd Mumbuwa (Minnetonka, Minn.) and Colby Njos (Anoka, Minn.). Garrett Vos celebrates after winning a state championship (Photo/Mary Christen, The Guillotine) 126: State champion Garrett Vos (Waconia, Minn.) will be looking to add a JJ Classic title his growing wrestling resume. Vos placed third at the JJ Classic in each of the last two years. He compiled a 37-2 record last season en route to winning a state championship at 113 pounds. Aaron Bahr (West Salem, Wis.) is coming off a strong freshman season in which he placed fourth at the Bi-State Classic and fifth at the state tournament. Tyler Shackle (Scott West, Minn.), Caleb Ziebell (Slinger, Wis.) and Brady Gross (Apple Valley, Minn.) are all returning JJ Classic placewinners that are expected to make noise in this weight class. Shackle was a Minnesota Christmas Tournament placewinner, and finished fifth in both styles at Northern Plains. Ziebell compiled a 48-6 record last season en route to placing fifth in the state tournament. Gross was a placewinner at the Minnesota Christmas Tournament and Cheesehead Invitational. Another wrestler to watch in this weight class is Cade Lundeen (Thief River Falls, Minn.), a two-time state qualifier entering his sophomore season. Christopher Deloza rides Nick Suriano at the Doc Buchanan Invitational (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) 132: Christopher Deloza (Wrestling Prep, Calif.) has been in the Junior National folkstyle finals in each of the last two years. He placed fifth in California's one-class state tournament in 2015, and has also placed multiple times at the Doc Buchanan Invitational. Two-time state champion Sam Stuhl (Ellsworth, Wis.) is expected to challenge for the title. As a freshman, Stuhl attended Prescott High School and became his school's first state champion in wrestling since Willy Holst won back-to-back championships in 2001-02. Last season he transferred to Ellsworth High School and won his second straight state title with a 5-0 shutout victory in the finals at 126 pounds. He was a third-place finisher at the Minnesota Christmas Tournament, and also placed fourth at the Bi-State Classic. Sophomore Sebas Swiggum (Apple Valley, Minn.) was a Cadet National folkstyle champion this past spring, just over a month after placing third in the state tournament as a freshman. Alex Kern (St. Cloud Tech, Minn.) was a state fourth-place finisher, losing to Swiggum for third. Creighton Klinkhammer (Brandon Valley, S.D.) was a state runner-up last season at 113 pounds and could figure into the mix. Jaden Van Maanen was dominant en route to winning a JJ Classic title in 2015 (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine) 138: North Dakota State commit Jaden Van Maanen (La Crosse Central, Wis.) is returning to the InterMat JJ Classic after winning a title in the event last year at 132 pounds, outscoring his opposition 29-1. Van Maanen, one of the nation's top 100 recruits, compiled a 46-1 record last season as a junior en route to winning a state championship at 132 pounds. It was his third state medal after finishing runner-up as a sophomore and third as a freshman. Nate Larson (Apple Valley, Minn.), a Minnesota Christmas Tournament champion and state fourth-place finisher, should contend for the championship in this weight class. Clay Carlson (Willmar, Minn.), Cole Skelton (Ellsworth, Wis.) and Bailey Mennis (Madison, S.D.) have all been state placewinners. Patrick Ryan (New Trier, Ill.) placed third at the JJ Classic last year and will be looking to improve on that finish, as will Anthony Meister (Elk River, Minn.), who placed fifth. Another wrestler to watch is Gavin Ignaszewski (Albert Lea, Minn.), who placed at the Minnesota Christmas Tournament and Rumble on the Red. Alex Lloyd compiled a 42-1 record last season and won a state championship (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine) 145: Alex Lloyd (Shakopee, Minn.) will be in search of his third straight JJ Classic title. Last year Lloyd defeated Kanen Storr of Michigan (now at Iowa State) in the JJ Classic finals to take the title at 138 pounds. His previous JJ Classic title came at 126 pounds. This past season Lloyd compiled a 42-1 record en route to winning a state championship at 145 pounds as a sophomore. In the spring he claimed a Junior National folkstyle title at 145 pounds. In Fargo, Lloyd earned double All-American honors, placing sixth in Greco-Roman and seventh in freestyle. Lloyd is ranked No. 30 among all high school junior wrestlers in the United States. Iowa has a strong entrant in this weight class with Tanner Abbas (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows), a two-time state placewinner. Wisconsin has some challengers in this weight class with Jaden Winchel (Sparta) and Joshua Otto (Arrowhead Union). Winchel was an undefeated (49-0) state champion in 2015 as a sophomore and placed third in the state tournament as a freshman. Otto, who trains at the Askren Wrestling Academy, earned All-American honors in the Cadet National folkstyle competition. Other potential contenders include Gunner Charbonneau (Prior Lake, Minn.), Brody Nielsen (Albert Lea, Minn.) and Brock Parker (Waukee, Iowa). Devin Barr wrestling Minnesota's Alex Lloyd in Fargo (Photo/David Peterson, Minnesota/USA Wrestling) 152: Two-time state champion Devin Bahr (West Salem, Wis.) is returning to the JJ Classic after finishing runner-up last year. Bahr, a University of Wisconsin commit, is coming off a junior season in which he compiled a perfect 50-0 record en route to winning his second state championship. He has compiled a career record of 123-1 in three years of high school wrestling. His wrestling resume is littered with titles and medals in national age group events. Among Bahr's most notable wrestling achievements: Cadet National folkstyle champion, Cadet National Greco-Roman runner-up, Cadet National freestyle All-American, Cadet World Team member and Preseason Nationals champion. Minnesota's top contenders in this weight class include Zach Glazier (Albert Lea), Austin Braun (Woodbury) and Dalton Wagner (Jackson Country Central). Glazier is a multiple-time state placewinner, finishing third in 2015 and fourth in 2016. Braun is a four-time state qualifier, and finished fourth in the state tournament in 2015. Wagner was a third-place finisher at the Minnesota Christmas Tournament last season, and was fourth at the Rumble on the Red. Steidler is a multiple-time state placewinner. North Dakota state placewinners Devin Steidler (Bismarck) and Parker Wahl (Bismarck) are entered in this weight class. Also keep an eye on Minnesota state qualifiers Chase Logelin (New Prague) and Reece Sandberg (Milaca). Hayden Krein claimed a state championship last season 160: This weight class is headlined by Hayden Krein (Sparta), a state champion, multiple-time state medalist and Preseason Nationals runner-up. Krein placed sixth at the JJ Classic a year ago. Zach Lee (Kaukauna, Wis.) was a state fourth-place finisher last season, and also placed at Minnesota Christmas Tournament and Cheeshead Invitational. Also looking to turn in a strong performance in this weight class is Joshua Bernier (Thief River Falls, Minn.), a three-time state qualifier and Big Bear champion. Bryson Alsteen 170: Bryson Alsteen (Kaukauna, Wis.), a returning JJ Classic placewinner, has been a Cadet All-American in Fargo the past two summers. Evan Lawrence (Mahtomedi), Jake Leicht (Bloomington Kennedy) and Seth Anderson (Lakeville North) are all solid Minnesota wrestlers capable of high finishes in this weight class. Tyler Buesgens was a Cadet All-American in both folkstyle and freestyle (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine) 182: Two of Minnesota's top upperweight wrestlers, Tyler Buesgens (Scott West) and Caden Steffen (Zumbrota-Mazeppa), could be on a collision course to meet in the finals. The two met in Fargo this past summer, with Buesgens coming out on top by way of fall. Buesgens was a Cadet All-American this year in both folkstyle and freestyle, and placed fourth in the state tournament as a sophomore. Steffen was a Fargo finalist this past summer, finishing runner-up in the Cadet Greco-Roman competition. After winning a Preseason Nationals title last fall, Steffen put together a strong sophomore season, going undefeated at The Clash before becoming a state runner-up to Oklahoma State signee Keegan Moore at 170 pounds.Connor Williams (La Crosse Central, Wis.), a Northern Plains double finalist and Bi-State finalist, will be looking to improve upon his fourth-place finish in last year's JJ Classic. Williams was a state fifth-place finisher, and has qualified for the state tournament three times. State qualifiers Noah Keith (Bloomington Kennedy, Minn.), Alex Lindstrom (Eastview) and Beau Yineman (Neenah, Wis.) will look to challenge. Griffin Thorn is one of the top contenders at 195 pounds (Photo/David Peterson, Minnesota/USA Wrestling) 195: State qualifier Griffin Thorn (Owatonna, Minn.) returns to the JJ Classic after finishing fourth in the same weight class a year ago. James Huntley (Stillwater Area, Minn.) has been a state qualifier. Ben Lathrop (Anoka, Minn.) was a Northern Plains double champion in 2015. Ezayah Oropeza (Rosemount, Minn.) as a Minnesota Ninth Grade League state runner-up this past season. Abdulla Shigidy (Burnsville, Minn.), a section placewinner, could surprise. Justin Mohlin works for a turn in Fargo (Photo/David Peterson, Minnesota/USA Wrestling) 220: This weight class includes a couple state qualifiers in Alchan Robbs (Bloomington Kennedy, Minn.) and Justin Mohlin (Centennial, Minn.), a JJ Classic fourth-place finisher last year. Robbs qualified at 220 pounds last season, while Mohlin was down two weight classes at 182 pounds. Spencer Trenary claimed a Cadet National Greco-Roman title in Fargo (Photo/John Sachs, Tech-Fall.com) 285: Cadet National Greco-Roman champion Spencer Trenary (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, Iowa) enters as the favorite. Trenary was a top-three finisher in all three styles at Cadet Nationals this year. He was a runner-up in the Cadet National folkstyle competition in April, and then earned double All-American honors in Fargo, claiming the Greco-Roman title and finishing third in freestyle. Trenary was a state placewinner as a freshman heavyweight in Iowa's Class 2A. Anthony Putz (St. Peter, Minn.) is a talented big man who qualified for the state tournament as a freshman in 2015, and then suffered an injury last season. Trey Chatman (Hayfield, Minn.) won nearly 30 matches last season, placing fourth in his section.

The presidential debates wrapped up this week and after nine months of campaigning it'll soon be time for Americans to take to the polls to choose a president. We all understand that a vote for president is personal (unless you expose it on Twitter), but there are lessons we can learn from the dialogue of the campaign. The most obvious conclusion being that a majority of our fans, athlete and members are conservative and vote Republican. And just so we're clear, that's not an issue. However, in talking about politics some of our members reveal that there is a surprising lack of empathy for those less fortunate, minorities and women -- as it happens also three very important sectors of the wrestling community and keys to its future growth. Wrestling needs to open itself up to more people, welcome all classes and make women feel comfortable on the mats and in our conversations. Wrestling in the United States has been abysmal at welcoming women to the mats. Title IX was a time and resource suck that cost us growth opportunities and millions of dollars and yet at every turn, every opportunity, rather than pivot to inviting women on a massive scale we instead shirked and filed another meaningless court case. Throughout the 1980's and 90's there was no long-term progressive vision in our sport and no interest in understanding on how women could become valuable members of our community. Had wrestling approached our gender equity by providing more opportunities for women it's likely that today's sporting leaders would hold our sport in higher regard -- instead of the reputation we wear for fighting against equal rights. Wrestling needs to consider its future and not be drug down by diminutive men and their backward ideas. We need to show that our sport is about more than celebrating brutish men figuring out their psychological and emotional issues in seven minute spurts, and instead turn towards a more progressive approach that welcomes all to the mats and celebrates every journey regardless of gender or social class. Wrestling does not belong to the sexists, the racists or those that might support that ideology. The sport belongs to you, and me, and those who want to make it more accessible, fair and friendly to women and those who could benefit from the sport's many lessons. Respect for women and those less fortunate is a matter of consistency. There is no bartering, no allowance for hate or misogyny. Even a spoonful of such hateful and criminal rhetoric poisons progress. Never accept less or allow someone to imply that our sport can be anything but tolerant, reformist, fair and socially conscious. To your questions … Jimmy placed fourth at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials at 65 kilograms (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) Q: I noticed Kennedy is ranked at 70 kilograms, not 61 kilograms. Assuming he's there at World Team Trials, thoughts on how he, Green and JO match up at that weight class? -- Eagle Fan Foley: Jimmy Kennedy is incredibly talented and capable of taking home the title any time he enters a tournament. The cut to 61 kilograms was brutal for him and many other athletes and it's been fun to see the 65-kilogram wrestlers move into the 70-kilogram weight class. I give him a solid 20 percent chance of making the team, which is generous considering the path he needs to take through the mini-tournament and best-of-three against James Green. Jordan Oliver pops up for these tournaments and causes a mess to national rankings, but I don't see him beating Green or Kennedy up at 70 kilograms in 2016. On a side note, this concentration of talent we see going towards the non-Olympic weights in the Olympic year should make the tournament in Budapest a can't-miss event. I imagine there is a lot of similar shuffling going on in Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Japan and many more nations. Q: Any thoughts on Bloomsburg hiring Marcus Gordon as its head wrestling coach? -- Derek L. Foley: I don't know too much about Marcus Gordon, but it seems as though Bloomsburg chose the closest option and someone that they trust. "Marcus emerged from a very talented pool of applicants and we are thrilled to be able to name him as our next head wrestling coach," said (VP of Student Affairs) Somerville. "He is a quiet, but passionate individual who we feel has what it takes to grow our program on the mat as well as in the classroom. His love for the sport and the University is evident." Many in the wrestling community attach successful hires to prior head coaching experience and association with top programs. However, in-program knowledge of a smaller school like Bloomsburg (and how to operate and recruit within your limitations) is a major asset to an athletic director. Though a larger program, this mentality in choosing a leader is what helped Matt Storniolo land the job at Northwestern -- a full layout of the organizational limitations were already absorbed and he was already creating answers. Best of luck to Coach Gordon! Q: Is Brent Metcalf retired? -- Eagle Fan Foley: No confirmation, but judging from Metcalf's Twitter he is DEEP into bow hunting and to be honest I love it. Metcalf seems to know as much about bows, animals and hunting as he does wrestling. Should this be his next step I'd be thrilled to watch on as a spectator. Metcalf gave the wrestling community 100 percent dedication and sat squarely in the middle of the spotlight for more than 10 years. If he's going out to pasture it's with his head held high and a compound bow in hand. Q: I'm in for the Freestyle World Cup, but where can I buy tickets? My girlfriend is also in. Do you know whether women are permitted to attend wrestling events in Tehran? If so, whether they are restricted to certain sections of the venue? I recall reading somewhere that restrictions may apply, but I haven't seen anything definitive. Are the dates for the World Cup final, or are they likely to change again? Inquiring visa authorities want to know. -- Jacob J. Foley: Traveling to Tehran for the freestyle World Cup is a major investment in the sport of wrestling. Nothing but respect for the commitment! The dates will not change, but note that they did swap dates with the Greco-Roman World Cup and will now be in February. Tickets are certainly doable, though you may need to work with USA Wrestling on transportation and some of the details. They should be able to let you know where they are staying and how they plan to tackle the city. I've done it both on my own and attaching myself at times to members of the USA delegation. As for your visa, unfortunately I think it'll take a few attempts to be approved. There are VERY few visas given to American tourists each year. I've even been denied in the past! Currently women are not allowed to attend wrestling matches in Iran. There might be some other activities for you both to enjoy. Tehran is beautiful. Definitely don't book your flight until you get approval and I'd recommend sending that application in right away. PARTING WORDS By Jacob R. It's been two months since the folks at Flowrestling declared that NBC had slapped wrestling in the face. The main theme in their article was the lack of coverage the network had given to Helen Maroulis and her amazing feat. Interesting how since the end of the Olympics Flowrestling has released two full-length documentaries and neither one of them was about Helen.

Marcus Gordon BLOOMSBURG -- Bloomsburg University Vice-President for Students Affairs Dr. Dione Somerville has announced the hiring of Marcus Gordon as the new head coach for wrestling. Gordon had spent the past three years as the assistant coach of the Huskies. "Marcus emerged from a very talented pool of applicants and we are thrilled to be able to name him as our next head wrestling coach," said Somerville. "He is a quiet, but passionate individual who we feel has what it takes to grow our program on the mat as well as in the classroom. His love for the sport and the University is evident." "I would like to thank President (David) Soltz, Dr. (Michael) McFarland, Dr. Somerville, and the search committee for giving me the opportunity to lead the Bloomsburg University wrestling team," said Gordon. "I am excited to step into the new role as head coach and help this young team achieve their goals in the classroom and on the mat. Bloomsburg University has a rich tradition in wrestling and my goal is to have the team wrestling at a high level and build off the storied past." Before coming to Bloomsburg, Gordon spending six seasons as the assistant coach at Ashland (OH) University where he was also a standout wrestler for the Eagles. At Ashland, Gordon was involved in every aspect of the AU program playing a prominent role in recruiting, assisting in camps and special projects along with coaching responsibilities during matches and practices. He had four consecutive top five recruiting classes, including a number one ranking in 2009 according to USA Wrestling. Gordon also helped coach 26 NCAA D-II national qualifiers; nine NCAA D-II All-Americans and 21 NWCA All-Academic student-athletes. He helped the Eagles to a 15-2-1 dual meet record in 2010-11, the school's best record in 30 years. As a wrestler Gordon was a three-year letterman for the Eagles. He was a two-time qualifier for the national meet and a two-time Academic All-American (Wrestling Coaches of America). He won a championship at the 2008 Midwest Classic and that same season was a regional champion. During the 2007-08 season Gordon was ranked as high as third in the country. Gordon also served as a team captain. Gordon began his collegiate career at Eastern Michigan where he was a two-year starter on the mat at EMU. As a high school wrestler Gordon was a wrestling standout at Mapleton (OH) High School. During his prep career he was a four-time OHSAA state placer and a two-time state champion. He was also named the most valuable wrestler at the state championship meet. He holds Mapleton's record for career takedowns (886). Gordon earned a degree in special education at Ashland. He, his wife, Jessica, and son Nash, reside in the Bloomsburg area. The Huskies open the 2016-17 season on Sunday, Nov. 6 hosting the Bloomsburg University Duals with Davidson and Keystone.

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. -- The wrestling program at Williams Baptist College is about to expand. WBC's athletic department has announced the addition of Greco-Roman wrestling as an intercollegiate sport, beginning next fall. "We are excited to build on the success we have enjoyed with wrestling at Williams, and Greco-Roman will provide an opportunity for 30 student-athletes to participate in a sport they love while they are attending Williams Baptist College. We look forward to getting a head coach in place and welcoming this new group of athletes to the Williams campus," said Athletic Director Jeff Rider. Greco-Roman wrestling is one of two wrestling styles contested in the Olympics, and it is especially popular with wrestlers who aspire to compete at the Olympic level. It differs from the standard collegiate form of wrestling, which is known as folk-style wrestling. The most notable distinction is that the Greco-Roman style restricts athletes to upper body techniques and does not allow grabbing below the waist or attacks with the legs. Greco-Roman wrestling at Williams will function as an intercollegiate sport, separate from WBC's varsity wrestling team. While the WBC Greco-Roman squad will compete against other colleges, the style is not currently sanctioned as a varsity sport in the American Midwest Conference or the NAIA. Williams added varsity wrestling in 2014 and has seen immediate success. In its two years of existence, the program has grown to over 40 wrestlers. The team has had three All-Americans and finished the 2015-16 season ranked in the NAIA polls. Rider credited WBC wrestling Head Coach Kerry Regner with having the idea to start Greco-Roman at WBC and with helping guide the development process. "The benefits for our existing wrestling program will be great," said Regner. "There is a specific niche to Greco-Roman wrestling that lends itself to success in all styles of wrestling, and our collegiate team will be exposed to these techniques. Though the teams will remain separate, it is a great step for not just Williams, but also for USA Greco-Roman wrestling." Williams is currently seeking applicants for a head coach of the Greco-Roman wrestling team. More information can be found at www.williamsbaptistcollege.com/employment. For all WBC athletic news, go to www.wbceagles.com.

Anthony Ashnault batting Joey McKenna for third place at the NCAAs (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com) MANHEIM, Pa. -- When Anthony Ashnault takes the mat at on November 5 at Cleveland State University's Wolstein Center, he'll be doing something no Rutgers wrestler has ever done -- compete in the NWCA All-Star Classic. Ashnault, a two-time All-American, will face returning NCAA runner-up Bryce Meredith of Wyoming at 141 pounds in the seventh matchup announced by the National Wrestling Coaches Association. The event, presented by The Brewer-Garrett Company and hosted by the Wrestlers in Business Network, has served as the major kick-off event for the wrestling season since becoming and early-season event. In 2012, the event moved to the first weekend of the major college wrestling calendar and has been a fixture ever since. "We've got two All-Americans who can put on a show," said NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer. "Anthony Ashnault has been able to help his program ascend to new heights under coach Scott Goodale. We saw a tremendous run to the finals last year from Bryce Meredith and you've got two non-traditional powers putting their All-Americans into this fine event. That's a win for Cleveland and that's a win for wrestling." Meredith transferred back to his native Wyoming after competing for N.C. State as a freshman. His run to the finals included wins over his former teammate and No. 3 seed Kevin Jack of N.C. State, No. 6 Micah Jordan of Ohio State and No. 2 Joey McKenna of Stanford. Meredith is a native of Cheyenne, Wyo., and was a four-time state champion at Central High School. He comes into the match with a career record of 44-12 after going 29-5 last season and finishing third at the Big 12 Championships. Ashnault has the distinction of being New Jersey's first unbeaten four-time state champion. The South Plainfield, N.J. native went 170-0 during his high school career and is already a two-time All-American. Last season, Ashnault became the first wrestler from Rutgers to win a Big Ten title, while also becoming the school's first NCAA semifinalist since 1960. He finished fourth at 141 pounds and finished last season with a 32-4 record. Ashnault is 61-12 in two seasons. Meredith and Ashnault have not met in college competition. For Wyoming, Meredith will be the seventh participant in school history. Wyoming last appeared in the All-Star Classic in November of 2011 with Shane Onufer (165) and Joe LeBlanc (184) both competing. LeBlanc is the only Cowboy wrestler to win a bout in the All-Star Classic, winning both his appearances in 2010 and 2011. Overall, Wyoming is 2-4 in the event. Rutgers becomes the 104th school to add its name to the list of programs that have participated in the NWCA All-Star Classic. 2016 NWCA All-Star Classic Presented by The Brewer-Garrett Company Hosted by the Wrestlers in Business Network November 5, 2016 - Wolstein Center, Cleveland State University Time: Showcase Matches 6 p.m.; Main Event 7 p.m. Tickets: $15 GA, $100 Preferred Seating/Social. Group options available. Tickets available at www.goallstarclassic.com or Wolstein Center Box Office ( 844-407-2279) or Northeast Ohio Discount Drug Marts. Streaming: Trackwrestling.com Officially Announced Matchups 125: 133: Zane Richards, Sr. (Illinois) vs. Eric Montoya, Sr. (Nebraska) 141: Bryce Meredith, Jr. (Wyoming) vs. Anthony Ashnault, Jr. (Rutgers) 149: 157: Brian Murphy, Sr. (Michigan) vs. Max Rohskopf, Sr. (NC State) 165: Isaac Jordan, Sr. (Wisconsin) vs. Daniel Lewis, So. (Missouri) 174: 184: Gabe Dean, Sr. (Cornell) vs. Myles Martin, So. (Ohio State) 197: Brett Pfarr, Sr. (Minnesota) vs. Brett Harner, Sr. (Princeton) 285: Ty Walz, Sr. (Virginia Tech) vs. Connor Medbery, Sr. (Wisconsin) About the National Wrestling Coaches Association The National Wrestling Coaches Association, established in 1928, is a non-profit organization for the advancement of all levels of the sport of wrestling with a primary emphasis on developing coaches who work in academic environments. The membership embraces all people interested in amateur wrestling. The three core competencies of the NWCA are: coaching development, student-athlete welfare, and the promotion of wrestling. About Wrestlers in Business Network (WIBN) Wrestlers in Business Network is a registered 501 C-3 that strives to unite the thousands of wrestlers that have graduated from the sport and are now in their respective careers. Our mission is to build a community that serves as a platform to connect our members and facilitate business and job opportunities across the nation by leveraging a talent rich pipeline of wrestling alumni, with the ultimate byproduct of increasing reinvestment back to the sport. www.wrestlersinbusiness.org

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Anthony Ralph, who played an integral role in helping to mold Notre Dame College into a Division II power, has been hired as a volunteer assistant coach for the Buckeyes, head coach Tom Ryan announced today. “Anthony is a great addition to our staff,” said Ryan. “He's a tireless worker and outstanding recruiter. He's also a home grown Buckeye who has a great passion for the state of Ohio. As a state champion in high school and NCAA qualifier in college – all while in Ohio – he knows firsthand just how special the wrestling community is in this state. His success at Notre Dame has established that program as a dominant force year in and year out. He brings a mindset and philosophy that fits in perfectly with our coaches and athletes. The rapport he's developed with the student-athletes that's he's coached is rooted deeply in his desire to see them succeed in all aspects of their lives. We're excited that the next chapter of his career will be with the Scarlet and Gray.” Ralph was with Notre Dame since its inception in 2006-07, serving as an assistant coach until he was named co-head coach in the summer of 2015. Ralph played an instrumental role in making the program a model of success - since joining the Division II ranks in 2012, the Falcons have captured a team national championship (2014), produced 18 national champions, 62 All-Americans and 102 NCAA qualifiers. Prior to 2012, Ralph and the Falcons won the national titles at the NAIA level in 2010, 2011 and 2012. On the recruiting trail, Ralph was responsible for bringing in the No. 1-ranked classes for five straight years between 2012 and 2016 according to Amateur Wrestling News. Included in that group was Joey Davis, the only undefeated and four-time national champion in NCAA Division II history (133-0). Ralph wrestled collegiately at Kent State for current Notre Dame head coach Frank Romano. He earned a Mid-American Conference championship at 157 pounds in 1997 when he also qualified for the NCAA Championships. A native of Cleveland, Ralph was a three-time state placer in high school for St. Peter Chanel (the same program that produced two-time national champion and assistant coach J Jaggers). He won state championships in 1996 and 1997 and compiled a career high-school mark of 125-19. In 2001, Ralph returned to St. Peter Chanel and was an assistant coach for five years. In that span, he coached six state champions, 23 state placers and three Fargo All-Americans. Ryan's coaching staff now consists of Jaggers, Tervel Dlagnev and Ralph. The credentials of the group includes two Olympic appearances, four NCAA titles, five NCAA finals berths and nine All-America honors. On the sidelines, they've accumulated over 40 years of combined coaching experience.

Cowley County Community College has made it official: it will add intercollegiate wrestling starting in fall 2017. The board of trustees at the two-year college, located in Arkansas City, Kan. south of Wichita, approved the plan to launch a mat program at the monthly board meeting held Monday. Back in January, Cowley College's board approved a study, conducted by college administrators, to see about the feasibility of adding a wrestling program. This week, the board approved the results of that study. In addition, the board also made the recommendation to retain former Arkansas City High School wrestling coach Wayne Jackson as a consultant to Cowley College athletic director Shane Larson if Coach Jackson is willing. Jackson led the Bulldog program from 1979 to 2000 and won a record 13 Kansas State Team championships during his tenure. The Ark City High wrestling team's accomplishments included the success of 150 individual state placers and 57 individual state champions. Coach Jackson has remained involved with the program since stepping down in 2000. During Monday's meeting, Larson provided the Cowley board with a feasibility study that showed the benefits of adding a new athletic program at the college. Four sports were taken into consideration in the study. The study showed there is a large recruiting base in the region to support the addition of a wrestling program at Cowley College. The NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) allows 18 scholarships for wrestling, and most intercollegiate programs carry rosters of 30-35 athletes. The study also showed the popularity of wrestling in the Cowley County region could lead to more participation in the Tiger Booster Club and provide an opportunity for increased enrollment. Along with the study, Larson provided the board with printed emails and letters from individuals supporting the startup of a wrestling program at Cowley College. Larson said the college will look to hire a head wrestling coach in early 2017, allowing the new coach time to assemble a roster and schedule matches before Cowley wrestlers would start competition in fall 2017. Cowley County Community College got its start in 1922 as the Arkansas City Junior College. For the first 30 years of its existence, the school was located in the basement of the Arkansas City High School. The school gained its own campus in 1950, and was renamed Cowley County Community College and Vocational-Technical School in 1965. According to the school's website, Cowley has approximately 5,000 students.

Ethan Lizak was one of four Gopher wrestlers suspended (Photo/Mark Beshey, The Guillotine) Four University of Minnesota wrestlers have been suspended until Jan. 1, 2017 for their alleged involvement in this summer's drug investigation, according to multiple media reports Wednesday. The wrestlers -- Tommy Thorn, Ethan Lizak, Larry Early and Brandon Krone -- have been suspended "for violation of team rules" according to a spokesman for the school's athletic department. Early is a redshirt freshman; the others are registered redshirt sophomores. Thorn, a returning NCAA qualifier, earned a No. 7 ranking at 141 pounds in InterMat's NCAA Division I preseason rankings. Lizak, an NCAA qualifier in 2015 who redshirted last season, comes into this season ranked No. 11 at 125 pounds. The athletes are suspended only from competing. They can attend class and can practice with the team, spokesman Jake Ricker said. University officials would not confirm if these suspensions are related to the drug investigation. While the wrestling season starts in November, most matches for the upcoming season will take place in 2017. News of the university's drug investigation broke in late May 2016. In InterMat's first story, titled "Minnesota wrestlers investigated for selling, using Xanax" -- dated May 26 -- reported that four University of Minnesota wrestlers were being investigated for selling the prescription anti-anxiety drug Xanax, while head coach J Robinson was being investigated for how he may have tried to handle the situation internally. On June 1, coach Robinson was suspended with pay. On June 24, Hennepin County prosecutors declined to charge any Minnesota wrestlers with selling Xanax, citing "insufficient evidence at this time." Despite that announcement, university police continued its investigation. One week later, Minnesota announced that Brandon Eggum has been named the acting head coach of the school's wrestling program. On Sept. 7, Robinson was fired after 30 years of service; Eggum was named interim head coach.

Bellarmine University students are about to be "schooled" on the oldest and greatest sport -- wrestling, which happens to be the Louisville school's newest intercollegiate sport -- at a "Wrestling 101" event this Thursday. The free "introduction to wrestling" program will take place at Frazier Hall on the Bellarmine campus on Thursday, Oct. 20. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with complimentary hot dogs, drinks and popcorn available, courtesy of Bellarmine Interim President Dr. Doris Tegart. The formal program will begin at 6 p.m. with the introduction of the team and coaching staff. The Knights wrestlers will then put on an exhibition, with head wrestling coach Spencer Adams "miked up" to provide commentary. In addition, handouts will be available to help explain rules and wrestling terms. Following the exhibition, fans will be invited to a "meet and greet" on the main floor, where the team will be available to sign free posters featuring the schedule for the inaugural season of Bellarmine wrestling in 2016-17. Wrestling is Bellarmine's 22d intercollegiate sport -- and the tenth men's sport. The new Knights wrestling program will compete in NCAA Division II. Back in June, Bellarmine announced it would essentially "absorb" the intercollegiate wrestling program at St. Catharine College, a tiny college in central Kentucky, which had announced it would be closing its doors this past summer. As InterMat reported back on June 15, "Bellarmine's decision to absorb the St. Catharine mat program is good news for the staff and wrestlers at the soon-to-be-closed school. The Patriots' head wrestling coach Spencer Adams and assistant coach Gary Canter will remain coaches at Bellarmine, and all former SCC team members wishing to transfer will be retained as well. In addition, Bellarmine will honor the commitment to all of the St. Catharine signees for the 2016-17 season, provided they meet Bellarmine admission standards, according to the Bellarmine announcement." "Although wrestling wasn't originally in our short-range plans, St. Catharine's closing certainly made starting a new program a viable and logical option," said Bellarmine Director of Athletics Scott Wiegandt back in June. "Taking over an existing program allows us to hit the ground running while allowing Coach Adams to build on the inroads he made since founding the program at St. Catharine two years ago." Head coach Spencer Adams weighed in with his thoughts on the significance of Bellarmine adding wrestling to its roster of intercollegiate sports. “This is also a great day for the sport of wrestling in the state of Kentucky as Bellarmine University makes history in adding the only NCAA II wrestling program in the state,” Adams said in June. “I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to start yet another wrestling program and to provide my student athletes with a bright future here at Bellarmine University." Founded in 1950, Bellarmine (pronounced BEL-ur-men) University is a private, Catholic, four-year school located just outside downtown Louisville. Bellarmine has an enrollment of approximately 3,600 students. Its Knights sports teams – including its new wrestling program – compete in NCAA Division II.

The "Lou Rosselli effect" has struck yet again on the recruiting landscape. Yet another Ohio native has verbally committed to the University of Oklahoma, this one a lightweight. Two-time state champion Tommy Hoskins (Legacy Christian Academy, Ohio) did the honors late on Wednesday afternoon. Hoskins, ranked No. 42 overall in the Class of 2018, was also a Junior National freestyle All-American this summer when he placed eighth at 120 pounds. In addition, he was a Cadet freestyle All-American last summer, placing third at 113. He projects to compete as a 125/133 in college, and also ended the 2015-16 season ranked No. 14 nationally at 113 pounds.

Lindsey Durlacher lifts Mike Mena in their Real Pro Wrestling match (Photo/Danielle Hobeika) Three prominent Greco-Roman wrestlers -- Jim Hazewinkel, Dave Hazewinkel and the late Lindsey Durlacher -- will be inducted into the Alan & Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions this Saturday, Oct. 22. In addition, the Minnesota Wrestling Club will be presented with the Legacy Award, and Joe DeMeo will receive the Alan Rice Leadership Award. While the Alan & Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions is located in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum in Waterloo, Iowa, the induction ceremony for its seventh class will held at the Christensen Center Commons on the campus of Augsburg College in Minneapolis. The reception begins at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m.; the induction ceremony will start at 8 p.m. Tickets for the dinner are $50 each and may be purchased by contacting the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum at (319) 233-0745. Jim and Dave Hazewinkel in 1972 Dave and Jim Hazewinkel, identical twin brothers from Coon Rapids, Minnesota, were members of the 1968 and 1972 United States Greco-Roman Olympic teams and were both members of six consecutive World and Olympic teams from 1967 to 1972. Dave was the first American to win two World medals in Greco-Roman wrestling, earning a bronze medal in 1969 and a silver medal in 1970. Jim was also a member of the 1966 World team and his highest finish at the World Championships was fourth in 1969. The Hazewinkels were presented the Legacy Award by the Alan & Gloria Rice Greco-Roman Hall of Champions in 2012. Lindsey Durlacher helped lead the United States to its first Greco-Roman World Championship team title in 2007, finishing fifth. He was a silver medalist at the Pan American Championships in 2003, and again in 2007 after moving up a weight class. He won a bronze medal at 121 pounds at the 2006 World Championships, and was also a member of the USA team for the 2005 World Championships. He was the U.S. Open champion in 2006 and was runner-up in the event five times. Joe DeMeo was head coach of the U.S. Greco-Roman World team four times, and was a member of the Olympic coaching staff in 1976, 1980, 1988, and 1992. He was named National Coach of the Year three times by USA Wrestling, which named him Developmental Coach of the Year in 2005. The Minnesota Wrestling Club -- also known as Minnesota Storm -- has consistently supported the sport of wrestling since its formation in the 1960s. The team has won more than 20 national team championships and produced four USA national and Olympic team coaches. They had a domineering presence in the recent Olympic team trials, and continued their record of placing a wrestler on every USA Olympic wrestling team since 1964. Kyle Klingman, director of the NWHOF Dan Gable Museum, provided perspective on the significance of the Class of 2016 honorees. "The Minnesota Wrestling Club has a remarkable history," Klingman told InterMat. "The state of Minnesota continues to carry the torch for Greco-Roman wrestling in this country. The Hazewinkels are among that group. These identical twins were pioneers for their brand of the sport, and their influence carries on with Sam Hazewinkel. Lindsey Durlacher was taken from us too soon, but his legacy of winning a World medal and for being part of the United States' 2007 Greco-Roman World Championship team continue to be remembered." If that weren't enough to get Greco fans to attend, Klingman offers some additional, powerful reasons to attend what is sure to be a memorable event. "It's pretty remarkable that we have so many past inductees attending the event: Steve Fraser, Mike Houck, Brandon Paulson, Brad Rheingans, Dennis Koslowski, Jim Martinez and Alan Rice. That's on top of several successful wrestlers from the Minnesota Wrestling Club who will be in attendance," said Klingman. "This will be a room filled with champions." Klingman pointed out that both Steve Fraser and Mike Houck will be at the induction ceremony. "Steve beat Mike to make the 1984 Olympic team, which he eventually won -- becoming the first American wrestler to win an Olympic gold medal in the Greco-Roman discipline. The following year, Mike Houck became the first American wrestler to win the World Championships in Greco-Roman wrestling," according to Klingman.

Can't make it to Rochester, Minnesota, this Saturday for the 2016 InterMat JJ Classic? You can catch all the action online. InterMat is not only providing live video streams of all the mats from the JJ Classic, but also recording every match and posting them live on the brackets via Trackcast. There will be a full production for the finals, which will include interviews with the 15 champions. Catch some of the nation's top high school wrestlers in action this Saturday. The tournament begins at 9 a.m. CT. Visit the

Q: When does 12 equal 10? A: When the Big 12 conference continues to have ten member schools ... rejecting the idea of expanding its membership after nearly three months of speculation. The idea of expanding the conference was introduced in July -- with the idea of adding two new members to return to a roster of 12 schools, or perhaps adding four members to increase to 14 -- and it ended Monday night at a press conference featuring Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby and University of Oklahoma president David Boren at the conclusion of all-day talks Monday. Big 12 conference officials held interviews in September with Air Force and Colorado State from the Mountain West; Central Florida, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Houston, South Florida, SMU (Southern Methodist University) and Tulane from the American Athletic Conference; and BYU (Brigham Young University), which is a football independent with its other sports in the West Coast Conference. While the issue of adding new schools was driven by football, the Big 12 has a long legacy of success in wrestling going back decades (with conference member Oklahoma State No. 1 in the latest InterMat pre-season NCAA Division I rankings) ... with the possibility that a newly-expanded Big 12 might have had a positive impact on growing the sport at major universities that don't have intercollegiate wrestling programs. In fact, of the ten candidate schools interviewed, only Air Force currently has a Division I wrestling program ... and the Falcon wrestling program is already an affiliate member of the Big 12. In March 2016, Air Force competed in the Big 12 conference wrestling championships for the first time, along with fellow affiliate members North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, South Dakota State, Utah Valley, and Wyoming. These six wrestling programs that are new affiliate members of the Big 12 join the four full-fledged members of the conference that offer intercollegiate wrestling -- Iowa State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and West Virginia -- for a total of ten wrestling programs competing at the Big 12 conference wrestling championships. With only four fully-affiliated Big 12 schools offering intercollegiate wrestling, that means six members of the conference do not offer intercollegiate wrestling: Baylor, Kansas, Kansas State, TCU (Texas Christian), Texas and Texas Tech. Some of these schools -- including Kansas, Kansas State, and Texas -- once had Division I mat programs but have not offered intercollegiate wrestling in decades. Through much of the history of the NCAA Division I wrestling championships, Big 12 schools took home a large percentage of NCAA team trophies. From the first championships in 1928 through the mid-1970s, three Big 12 schools -- Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, and Iowa State -- took home the lion's share of NCAA team titles. However, in the past 40 years or so, most NCAA team titles have been won by Big Ten schools, including Iowa, Minnesota, Penn State, and Ohio State. The last Big 12 program to be crowned NCAA team champs: Oklahoma State, in 2006.